1931-1950 | 1951-1970 | 1971-1990 | 1991-2000 |
This is a list of the dates, venues and winners of National Ploughing Championships from 1951 to 1970.
1951
Number of counties competing 20
1952
There were demonstrations of new implements at the Ploughing Championships. These incuded:
a rotary hoe; a Clifford Rotary Cultivator; a Howard Rotavator; Disc Ploughs; a One-way Plough and a single Gang Disc Harrow
1953
At a council meeting of the N.P.A. on February 25th it was decided to hold a test match confined to the 10 Tractor Competitors who secured the highest marks in Mullingar. This council did not believe that Mullingar provided a fair test on account of the roughness of the match field.
The test match was held in Milltown, Co. Kildare on March 18th and each competitor was obliged to rise Middle and Furrow and plough 1,850 sq. yards in three hours. This was to be ploughed in two plots, one in the forenoon and one in the afternoon. The competitor with the highest combined marks was deemed the winner.
Test Match
1st Ronald Sheane, Wicklow
2nd Thomas McDonnell, Louth
These competitors represented Ireland at the first ever World Contest in Ontario, Canada, in September 1953.
1954
In this event 25 out of the 44 competitors lost their furrow marks for exceeding the time limit.
The 12 best competitors were selected to plough in a Test Match on February 27th to select those who would represent Ireland in the World Ploughing Contest to be held in Killarney in October 1954.
Test Match
1st William Murphy, Dublin
2nd Ronald Sheane, Wicklow
Date | Venue | Senior Ploughing Championship |
Junior Ploughing Champion |
Senior Individual Championship |
Junior Individual Champion |
Overall Tractor Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st February, 1951 | Wexford | 1st. Wexford 2nd. Wicklow 3rd. Louth |
1st. Cork 2nd. Dublin 3rd. Kildare |
Michael Redmond, Wexford |
William Murphy, Dublin |
P.J. Shanahan, Kerry |
7th February, 1952 | Athenry, Co. Galway |
1st. Kerry 2nd. Wicklow 3rd. Carlow |
1st. Tipperary N. 2nd. Dublin 3rd. Galway |
Patrick Mahoney, Kerry |
William Murphy, Dublin |
William Woodroofe, Wicklow |
11th February, 1953 | Mullingar, Co. Westmeath |
1st. Wicklow 2nd. Wexford 3rd. Kerry |
1st. Longford 2nd. Kildare 3rd. Cork |
Thomas McDonald, Carlow |
Eugene McGirr, Longford |
Andrew Rogers, Wexford |
11th February, 1954 | Cahir, Co. Tipperary |
1st. Kerry 2nd. Longford 3rd. Wexford |
1st. Cork 2nd. Offaly 3rd. Carlow |
J.J. Egan, Kerry |
Thomas McDonald, Carlow |
William Murphy, Dublin |
1955
This was the Silver Jubilee of the National Ploughing Association and the first ever two day event.
A local woman appeared for the first time in the National Press as Secretary for the Association, her name was Anna May Brennan. All the other members of the Association were men.
The "Queen of the Plough", Anna Mai Donegan, Kerry was presented with a Silver Crown of celtic design purchased in Weirs of Grafton Street, Dublin, value £200.
Date | Venue | Senior Horse Plough Champion |
Junior Horse Plough Champion |
Senior Tractor Plough Champion |
"Queen of the Plough" |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10th & 11th February, 1955 | Athy, Co. Kildare |
John Halpin, Wicklow |
John Murphy, Kerry |
William Kehoe, Wexford |
Anna Mai Donegan, Kerry |
1956
Number of counties competing 23
Number of trade stands 53
Date | Venue | Senior Horse Ploughing Championships |
Junior Horse Ploughing Championships |
Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Overall Tractor Plough Champion |
"Queen of the Plough" | 3/4 Furrow Tractor Champion | 2 Furrow Tractor Class |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st & 11nd February, 1956 | Nenagh, Co. Tipperary |
1st. Kerry 2nd. Wicklow 3rd. Carlow |
1st. Galway 2nd. Kilkenny 3rd. Kildare |
Joseph Byrne, Carlow |
Matthew Meleady, Kildare |
Henry Reilly, Louth |
Anna Mai Donegan, Kerry |
William Kehoe, Wexford |
Kevin Roche, Kerry N. |
1957
Number of counties competing 21
Number of trade stands 37
Date | Venue | Senior Horse Ploughing Championships |
Junior Horse Ploughing Championships |
Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Overall Tractor Plough Champion |
"Queen of the Plough" | Junior Tractor Champion |
3 Furrow Tractor Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7th & 8th February, 1957 | Boyle, Co. Roscommon |
1st. Cork 2nd. Kerry 3rd. Wexford |
1st. Kerry 2nd. Tipperary S. 3rd. Kilkenny |
John Kent, Wexford |
John Bergin, Tipperary S. |
Cornelius Slattery, Kerry |
Muriel Sutton, Wicklow, Eileen Duffy, Galway |
James O'Grady, Limerick |
Denis Healy, Kerry |
1958
As the fifties wore on, two aspects combined to suggest the passing of an era. One was J.J. Bergin's advancing years, the other was the acceleration into tractor mechanisation and the ever increasing abandonment of the horse.
In 1958 it was already clear that The Old Lion (Bergin) was fading. His poor health the previous year had prevented him from taking his usual part in the affairs of the Association. His condition gradually failed and on March 13th, 1958, J.J. Bergin, founder of the National Ploughing Association, died at Maybrook, Athy, Co. Kildare.
1959
A National Bread Baking Competition was introduced by the N.P.A. in co-operation with the E.S.B. and the first national winner was;
Mary Turner, Main St. Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
1960
Number of counties competing 22
Number of trade stands 63
Number of entries in National Bread Baking Competition 27
Date | Venue | Senior Horse Ploughing Championships |
Junior Horse Ploughing Championships |
Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Overall Tractor Plough Champion |
"Queen of the Plough" | Under 21 Champion |
Senior 2 Furrow Tractor Champion |
Junior 2 Furrow Tractor Champion |
3 Furrow Tractor Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12th & 13th February, 1958 | Tramore, Co. Waterford |
1st. Kerry 2nd. Carlow 3rd. Cork |
1st. Tipperary S. 2nd. Kilkenny 3rd. Waterford |
J.J. Egan, Kerry |
John Bergin, Tipperary S. |
William Murphy, Dublin |
Peggy Mullally, Kilkenny |
Kevin Roche, Kerry |
William Murphy, Dublin |
Eugene McGerr, Longford |
James Grainger, Kildare |
28th & 29th January, 1959 | Bunchurch, Co. Kilkenny |
1st. Carlow 2nd. Wicklow 3rd. Cork |
1st. Monaghan 2nd. Kilkenny 3rd. Offaly |
John Halpin, Wicklow |
Harry Campbell, Monaghan |
Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny |
Muriel Sutton, Wicklow |
Michael Keating, Wexford |
Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny |
John Walsh, Waterford |
Michael Kelly, Kilkenny |
9th & 10th November, 1960 | New Ross, Co. Wexford |
1st. Wicklow | J.J. Egan, Kerry |
John Corbett, Clare |
Richard Mullally, Kilkenny |
Mary Shanahan, Kerry |
James Murphy, Carlow |
Richard Mullally, Kilkenny |
1961
Eileen Brennan, the 1961 "Queen of the Plough": is sister of Anna May Brennan, then secretary of the N.P.A.
Date | Venue | Senior Horse Ploughing Championships |
Junior Horse Ploughing Championships |
Senior Tractor Champion |
Junior Tractor Champion |
"Queen of the Plough" | Under 21 Champion |
3 Furrow Tractor Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8th & 9th November, 1961 | Killarney, Co. Kerry |
1st. Wexford 2nd Kerry 3rd Carlow |
1st. Kilkenny 2nd Waterford 3rd Tipperary N. |
William Murphy, Dublin |
Matthew Dunne, Laois |
Eileen Brennan, Wicklow |
Patrick Brennan, Wicklow |
William Murphy, Dublin |
1962
Number of competing counties 20
Number of Trade stands 50
Number of machinery demonstrations 9
1963
The venue in Atherny was the Agricultural College and run under the Department of Agriculture as a Training College.
Date | Venue | Senior Horse Ploughing Championships |
Junior Horse Ploughing Championships |
Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Senior Tractor Champion |
Junior Tractor Champion |
"Queen of the Plough" | Under 21 Champion |
3 Furrow Tractor Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7th & 8th November, 1962 | Dovea, Thurles, Co. Tipperary |
1st. Carlow | 1st. Waterford | Thomas McDonald Carlow |
Edward O'Sullivan, Waterford |
Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny |
James Savage, Louth |
Angela Galgey, Waterford |
Donal Regan, Kerry |
Joseph T. Hoyne, Offaly |
6th & 7th November, 1963 | Athenry, Co. Galway |
1st. Wicklow | 1st. Galway | Patrick Mahoney, Kerry |
Thomas Reilly, Galway |
Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny |
Christy Grainger, Kildare |
Eileen Brennan, Laois |
John O'Hea, Cork |
John Walsh, Cork |
1964
A new class was introduced for men under 28 and over 21 on the 1st of January of the competition year.
At this Event in Kilkenny, Ireland also celebrated their victory after Charles Keegan, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow won the 1964 World Plough Title at the World Ploughing Contest in Austria.
Date | Venue | Senior Horse Ploughing Championships |
Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Senior Tractor Champion |
Under 28 Tractor Champion |
Under 21 Tractor Champion |
"Queen of the Plough" | 3 Furrow Tractor Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18th & 19th November, 1964 | Danesfort, Co. Kilkenny |
1st. Wicklow | Peter Byrne, Wicklow |
John Kent, Wexford |
Andrew Cullen, Wexford |
John Drum, Kerry |
Patrick McKeown, louth |
Eileen Brennan, Laois |
John O'Hea, Cork |
1965
Due to extremely bad weather conditions the 1965 Championships were delayed for a week. When they did take place the weather had not improved much and the number of spectators was down considerably.
The 1965 Championships also saw the arrival of ESSO on the scene. ESSO offered to replace The Supreme Trophy initially presented by Vigzol Lubricants in 1946 and also to provide sponsorship for the Event. This was not an offer that could be refused and so ESSO, in the person of Dermot Jordan, and the N.P.A. began a very happy association was still exists today.
The ESSO Supreme Trophy is the premier award in the National Ploughing Championships. The competitor who gains the highest net marks in the Senior Tractor Class is presented with the trophy. It depicts a 2 furrow plough as used by the first Tractor Champion of Ireland. It is mounted on hand cut Connemara marble and the illustration is full chaised and burnished on matted bronze. It stands 12" high and stands on a base of Kilkenny marble.
The trophy was designed and created by Messrs. Gunning & Sons, Ltd., Dublin.
The Vigzol trophy was, by agreement, bestowed permanently on the County Wicklow Ploughing Assoc.
1966
Another new competition was introduced in 1966 to cater for students of Agricultural Colleges. The intention was to stimulate interest in the skills and values of good ploughing and tillage methods in the students.
The competition was sponsored by Henry Ford & Son, Cork.
1967
From 1967 onwards, all competitors entered in the Horse Plough Classes were graded Senior.
Agricultural College Class
Robert Miller, (Laois) representing Pallaskenry College.
1968
The National Championships in Banteer was very well attended and was a great success.
The cost of the catalogue was 2/- and admission to the "Queen of the Plough" dance was 8/-, music by Maurice Mulcahy.
1969
So as to make the National Championships more interesting to the ladies of the time, the I.C.A. were invited to give demonstrations in cooking, rug making and floral arrangements. This was a major development as it made the Event an occasion the whole family could enjoy.
Rockwell College is run by the Holy Ghost Fathers and has a large farm attached to the school.
1970
Number of counties competing 21
Number of trade stands 73
Number of machinery demonstrations 17
Date | Venue | Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion |
Senior Tractor Champion |
Senior Tractor Champion |
Under 28 Tractor Champion |
Under 21 Tractor Champion |
"Queen of the Plough" | 3 Furrow Tractor Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17th & 18th November, 1965 | Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow |
John Halpin & Peter Byrne, Wicklow |
Moni Behan, Waterford |
Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny. |
Patrick Tallon, Meath. |
John O'Hea, Cork (living in Dublin) |
Martin Kehoe, Wexford. |
Brigid O'Connor, Wexford. |
William Murphy, Dublin. |
2nd & 3rdNovember, 1966 | Rosegarland Est., Wellingtonbridge, Co. Wexford |
Thomas McDonald, Carlow | Ted Keohane, Cork |
Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny |
Patrick McKeown, Louth |
John Tracey, Carlow |
John Paul O'Donovan, Cork |
Betty Williams, Wicklow |
Patrick Tallon, Meath |
25th & 26th October, 1967 | Tullow, Co. Carlow |
Thomas McDonald, Carlow |
James Murphy, Carlow |
Patrick McKeown, Louth |
Anthony Mulligan, Wicklow |
Eamonn Muldowney, Kilkenny |
Brigid O'Connor, Wexford |
Liam Rohan, Laois |
|
23rd & 24th October, 1968 | Banteer, Co. Cork |
John Halpin, Wicklow |
William Murphy, Dublin |
Michael Murphy, Carlow |
Martin Hanlon, Wexford |
Martin Kehoe, Wexford |
Betty Williams, Wicklow |
||
22nd & 23rd October, 1969 | Rockwell College, Cashel, Co. Tipperary |
John Kent, Wexford |
Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny |
John Bergin, Tipperary S. |
John Paul O'Donovan, Cork |
Martin Kehoe, Wexford |
Lilian Keating, Wexford |
Michael Keating, Wexford |
|
28th & 29th October, 1970 | Danesfort, Co. Kilkenny |
John Halpin, Wicklow |
William Murphy, Dublin |
Patrick Tallon, Meath |
John Sally, Wicklow |
Seamus Cullen, Wexford |
Mary Ryan, Kilkenny |
Michael Keating, Wexford |
1931-1950 | 1951-1970 | 1971-1990 | 1991-2000 |
N.P.A. Ltd. Athy Co. Kildare Tel: (00353) 0507 25125 Fax: (00353) 050751272 email:npexhibition@tinet.ie |